State Cardiac Arrest Bill Aims To Save Student Athletes

by Jared Adkins, Essential Public Radio

Cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes across the country, but currently there is no policy in Pennsylvania to screen athletes and possibly prevent unnecessary death. A new bill in committee in the state Senate addresses that discrepancy.

Sponsor state Senator John Blake (D-Lackawanna) said the goal of this bill is to protect student-athletes without overstepping the government’s boundaries.

“The issue for me is not to be too invasive, but to at least allow our local professionals and coaches and teachers and guidance folks and nurses and what have you in our schools to know that this is an issue that’s worthy of their highest attention and to have these kids checked before they return to strenuous activity that can put them in danger,” Blake said.